Contrasts

"This is one of the most satisfying organ CDs to come my way in a while: leaved through preludes and fugues by Buxtehude and Bach (given performances with plenty of energy and impetus) are four passacaglias (or chaconnes – nearly the same thing) by four of Finland’s leading composers, none of whom is known for organ music...

This is one of the most satisfying organ CDs to come my way in a while: leaved through preludes and fugues by Buxtehude and Bach (given performances with plenty of energy and impetus) are four passacaglias (or chaconnes – nearly the same thing) by four of Finland’s leading composers, none of whom is known for organ music. All four pieces are all around the six-minute mark, and are dark, even minatory in character.

Although passacaglias are variation-sets by definition and thus might invite floridity, there’s not a note too many in any of these works: all are pared down to the essential, leaving the music to roll forward as implacably as a force of nature. The ‘contrasts’ of the title are obviously between the modern works and the Baroque pieces, but it’s more than a question of style: the sombre nature of the passacaglias is set against the brightness of Bach’s and Buxtehude’s passagework, but in the closing A minor Prelude and Fugue Bach reminds us that he has plenty of sharp-edged vigour up his own venerable sleeve.